Weird Dog Behaviors That Often Have Medical Causes

When your dog is behaving strangely, it is easy to laugh it off and say something like "silly Fido." In many cases, your dog may, indeed, just be acting silly. But some behaviors that dog owners tend to pass off as strange or silly are anything but. They're actually a sign that your dog is struggling with something medically. Here are some so-called weird dog behaviors that may actually mean you should call the vet.

Asking to go outside again and again.

Some dogs are indecisive, and they like to ask to go in, then out, then in again repeatedly. But if your dog has not behaved this way in the past and the behavior is new, you should pay closer attention. Is your dog actually urinating every time they go outside? If so, these frequent requests to go out may be a sign of a urinary tract infection. UTIs make dogs feel like they have to urinate almost constantly, even though they only pass a small amount of urine each time.

Take your pup to the vet, and they can test the urine for the presence of infectious bacteria. If there are bacteria in the urine, they'll prescribe an antibiotic, which should clear things up pretty quickly.

Pressing their head against the wall.

Is your dog standing with their head pressed against the wall, as if they were naughty and sent to the corner? This behavior, while sometimes cute, can indicate a serious neurological condition. Your dog may be head-pressing as a way to orient themselves because they're experiencing vertigo, or in response to a headache. Take them to the vet, who will conduct a neurological exam. Then, they may do additional testing for tumors, degenerative diseases, and other illnesses that can cause neurological damage.

Humping everything. 

If your dog has always humped everything, there's likely no reason to be concerned. However, if this behavior has arisen out of nowhere, you should take them to the vet. A sudden onset of humping, especially when it's aggressive, can mean your dog's testosterone levels are elevated. This could mean they have an undiagnosed tumor that is secreting testosterone. A vet will conduct a blood test to get to the bottom of all this. If testosterone levels are elevated, they may recommend an MRI or x-rays to locate a tumor.

Dogs are silly creatures, but make sure you're not dismissing medical symptoms as purely silly behavior. Reach out to veterinarian services to learn more.

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